Be Careful When Road Surfaces Are Warped or Cracked
Concerns about sinkhole accidents are growing as another road subsidence phenomenon was discovered on a road near Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where a sinkhole accident had previously occurred.
According to the Seoul Western Road Office on the 30th, road subsidence was discovered during a patrol on Seongsan-ro in Yeonhui-dong that morning. The subsidence was found on Seongsan-ro, heading from Yonsei University to Sacheon Bridge, about 30 meters away from the site where the sinkhole accident occurred the previous day. Earlier, a sinkhole occurred on Seongsan-ro towards Seongsan Bridge in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, causing one car to fall in and injuring two people. The sinkhole measured 6 meters wide, 4 meters long, and 2.5 meters deep.
On the morning of the 29th, a passenger car fell into a sinkhole on Seongsan-ro in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The occupants of the passenger car were transported to the hospital due to this accident. Photo by Yonhap News
A sinkhole refers to the phenomenon where a certain area of land subsides. The causes of such phenomena include excessive underground excavation during new urban development, leakage caused by damage to water and sewage pipelines, and changes in groundwater flow due to the construction of large-scale underground facilities such as subways, roads, commercial buildings, and parking lots.
In particular, as underground space development has increased recently, sinkhole damage continues due to the aging of water and sewage pipelines. The number of sinkhole incidents occurring annually in Seoul exceeds 10 cases. According to Seoul City, the recorded cases were ▲15 in 2020 ▲11 in 2021 ▲20 in 2022 ▲22 in 2023.
Since sinkhole accidents often occur suddenly, they increase public anxiety. The sinkhole accident in Yeonhui-dong also occurred shortly after a bulging of the ground surface was observed. Professor Jang Seok-hwan of the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering at Daejin University explained on YTN News Now, "Before a sinkhole occurs, the road surface suddenly warps or cracks appear in the asphalt," adding, "If previously unseen water flows appear, it could indicate changes in groundwater levels or leakage from water and sewage pipelines."
Professor Jang emphasized, "Sudden sinkhole phenomena also occur in daily life, causing significant risks to buildings themselves," and added, "After the rainy season, local governments must conduct thorough inspections of roads for sinkhole phenomena, and when carrying out large-scale construction, manuals to prepare for sinkholes and groundwater level management are necessary."
He continued, "There is currently no accurate database on underground facilities, and even if one exists, it is not properly mapped or coordinated," stating, "Various investigations and database construction must be carried out to ensure no negligence in safety management regarding these issues."
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